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GRE vocabulary

deference

nounHigh-frequency wordMore D words

respectful submission to another's judgment or wishes

Word origin: From Latin deferre, to carry down or submit.

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In a sentence

Deference in a sentence

Here are example sentences showing deference in a sentence.

Out of deference to the elders, the young chief deferred his decision.

Out of deference to the senior researchers, the graduate student withheld her objections until the data were in.

Synonyms
respectregardsubmission
Antonyms

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Verbal · Text Completion

The committee's report was praised for its candor, yet its central recommendation was so blank that administrators could cite it to justify nearly any policy they had already resolved to pursue.

Select the word that best completes the sentence.

Usage & nuance

Using “deference” well

Deference is respectful yielding to another's judgment or authority, pairing with respect and submission. Do not confuse it with the homophone difference; the two are unrelated.

Common questions

Questions about “deference”

Deference (noun) means respectful submission to another's judgment or wishes
Here is deference used in an example sentence: "Out of deference to the elders, the young chief deferred his decision." Another example: "Out of deference to the senior researchers, the graduate student withheld her objections until the data were in."
Common synonyms for deference include respect, regard, submission.
Antonyms of deference include disrespect, defiance, insolence.
Clusters with respect, regard, and submission in Sentence Equivalence. Antonyms disrespect, defiance, and insolence describe a refusal to yield.
Yes. Deference is a high-frequency GRE word, so it is worth prioritising as you build your vocabulary.

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